Shared Risks Observing

Shared Risks Observing

Scientific observations begin in a "shared risks" phase. This phase follows
instrument commissioning and characterisation, and system verification. The shared risks phase is designed to enable early
scientific exploitation of the Gemini facilities and to involve the Gemini communities in
refining the use of the facility and instruments.

During the shared risks phase there is the possibility of reduced data quality and/or
data collection efficiency compared with that advertised due to unanticipated
commissioning time requirements, poorer than anticipated performance and/or lower
efficiency. This may even result in cancellation or rescheduling of some shared risks
observations at short notice. Cancelled classical shared risks observations not executed during the semester
will not automatically be rescheduled at a later date.

Every effort has been made to provide a realistic assessment of the capabilities and
performance of the instruments and telescope, However, since much of the commissioning and
system verification will not have been completed prior to the Call for Proposals, some of
the capabilities and performance may differ from those advertised.

Shared risks is expected to continue for 6
months after the release of each instrument mode. The sequence of system verification,
shared-risks use and full operational use is planned to occur on an instrument
mode-by-mode basis. Thus an instrument, or the telescope, may have modes that are at
different stages of operational readiness.

Last update August 29, 2003; Phil Puxley
In original form October 13, 1999; Phil Puxley